Control device



March 18, 1941. R. E. sToLz CONTROL DEVICE Filed May 4, '1935 s sheei s-srleet 1 March 18, 1941; R, E. STOLZ 2,235,267

CONTROL DEVICE Filed May 4, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I l aa HM Hil INVENTOR ATTORNE 4 R. E. sToLz CONTROL DEVICE Mal ch 18,1941.

Filed May 4, 19:55

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 55012. TmRA/EY: I I

Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,235,267 ooN'moL nnvron Rufus E. Stolz, East Cleveland, omo Application May 4, 1935, Serial No. 19,819 27 Claims. (01. 236-48) My invention relates, in general, to control devices and more particularly to control devices adapted to be utilized in connection with a refrigerating system.

An object of my invention is the provision of a toggle arrangement having a knee-action which gives a quick acting movement and being arranged to move the toggle arrangement when the knee-action of the toggle arrangement is substantially straight and being arranged such that there is an urging force set up by the knee-action to movable member when the knee action of the toggle arrangement is biased.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a movable member adapted to be moved from 1 one position to another taken, in combination with a toggle arrangement having two oppositely disposed knife-edge members and a third knifeedged member spaced from the two oppositely disposed knife-edged members and arranged such that the two oppositel disposed knife-edgememhers and the third knife-edged member provide a guiding arrangement for, and give a quick acting movement to, the movement of the movable member.

- Another object of my invention is to provide for sealing a valve in a valve casing by means of a flexible wall and for actuating the valve by means externally of the valve casing through means of the flexible wall, thereby effecting substantially a hermetically sealed valve.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a valve and a valvecasing forcontrollingtheflow of a medium, and a flexible meansadaptedto guide the valve and to entrap the medium from escaping from the valve casing past the valve in which case the medium exerts an internal pressure upon the flexible means and thereby urges the movement of the valve, taken in combination with equalizing means adapted to off-set-the internalpressure of the medium upon the flexible means and thereby make the movement of the valve independent of the internal pressure of the medium acting upon the flexible means.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of actuating a valve for controlling the flow' of a medium, wherein the medium influences the 5. actuating means for the valve, taken in combination with an equalizing means adapted to off-set the influence of the medium acting upon the actuating means of the valve.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a thermally actuated snap valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a refrigerant to an evaporator in accordance with the temperature conditions. r

Another object of my invention is to prevent too much ice collecting upon an evaporator of a refrigerating system by controlling the flow of the refrigerant to the evaporator in accordance with temperature conditions.

A still further object of my invention is the 0 provision of a pressure actuated snap valve mechanism for controllin the flow of a refrigerant to an evaporator, in accordance with the pressure conditions of the refrigerant.

Another object of my invention is the provision of the pressure actuating device for controlling a switch for interrupting the flow of current, taken in combination with an emergency pressure operating means for opening the switch when the pressure exceeds a predetermined selected value.

Another object is the provision of a valve and a valve casing and flexible means for guiding the valve stem and for entrapping the medium from escaping from the valve casing past the valve in which case the medium exerts an internal pre'ssure upon the flexible means and thereby urges the movement of a valve, taken in combination with a toggle arrangement having knee-action for giving a quick-acting movement to the valve, the arrangement being such that there is a slight 40 delay in the opening of the valve until the kneeaction of the toggle arrangement is biased suf- 'ficlently to urge the movement of the valve to the end of its travel.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a. pressure actuated snap valve mechanism for controlling the flow of cooling water, wherein the water either is flowing substantially full force or is substantially shut off, by reason of the snap action of the valve.

A still further object of my invention is'the provision of coolinga discharge pipe of a fluid container and for controlling the degree of cooling by a thermally actuated snap-valve mechanism.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my 56 invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in combination with the following description, in which;

Figure 1 is a front view of a thermally actuated snap valve mechanism, embodying the features of my invention, parts being cut away to illustrate more clearly the construction of the working parts;

Figure 2 is a front view of .a pressure actuated snap water valve mechanism, embodying the features of my invention, parts being cut in section to illustrate more clearly the construction of the working parts;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the floating toggle arrangement, embodying the features of my invention;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the toggle arrangement shown in Figure 3, and illustrates a different position of the parts than that position illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a front view of a. pressure actuated snap valve mechanism, embodying the features of my invention, parts being cut in section to illustrate more clearly the construction of the working parts;

Figure 6 is a front view of a quick acting pressure operated switch, embodying the features of my invention;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of a refrigerating system, employin features of my invention;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary diagrammatic illustration of another use of my invention, and illustrates primarily the means for cooling the exit pipe through which a fluid is passed before dis charged from the pipe;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of an evaporator which may be employed in my refrigeratthe construction of the flexible wall bellows l9.

ing system shown in Figure '7.

With reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, the reference character I 0 indicates, generally, my thermally actuated snap valve mechanism, and comprises briefly a valve assembly having a control valve l5 and a valve casing l8, a lower flexible wall assembly indicated generally by the reference character l4, an upper neutralizing flexible wall assembly indicated generally by the reference character 13, a thermo-expansible fluid power device 0, and a floating toggle arrangement indicated generally by the reference character l2, cooperating with the thermo-expansible power device C and having a large adjustment spring A and a small adjustment spring B, a common interconnecting member l6 which interconnects the floating toggle arrangement with the valve assembly for actuating the valve stem 26 of the control valve l5, and a body bracket 46 upon which the various parts are mounted.

The control valve l5, as will appear later in the description, is adapted to control the flow of the refrigerant to an evaporator of a refrigerating system. The refrigerant, as it comes from the compressor flows through the feed pipe 34 to a T-shape nipple 35, thence through'a thimble 33 into a second T-shape nipple 28, then past the valve 15 to the exit pip 3 2 which leads tofthe evaporator of the refrigeratingsystem. As illustrated, the valve I5 is adapted to cooperate with a replaceable valve seat 3| which rests on top of a restriction 30 provided in the thimble 29. In actual practice, the replaceable valve seat 3! is constructed of stainless steel, in order to avoid corrosion which-would, if allowed to occur, impair the operation of the control valve IS. The control valve I5 is provided with a valve stem 25 which is connected to the plunger 20 of the bellows I! by means of a threaded end 21. Therefore, the bellows l9 constitutes a support for guiding the valve IS with reference to the valve seat 3|. This means that the valve stem 26 is entirely free to move up and down to control the flow of the refrigerant to the evaporator of the refrigerating system, except for the small amount of power required to move the bellows l1 and i9. Surrounding the bellows I9, is a valve casing l8 having a female threaded opening which threadably engages the upper threaded end of the T-shaped nipple 28. The upper end of the bellows casing 18 may be connected to the under side of the lower flange 48 of the body bracket 46 by means of the four interconnecting members 43. This construction provides for sealing the valve I5 in a valve casing by means of a flexible wall and for actuating the valve [5 by means externally of the valve casing, thereby effecting substantially a hermetically sealed valve. This is very important, for the reason that if the valve stem 25 had to extend through the usual valve packing for external operation, the said packing would have to be so tight to prevent leaking of the refrigerant past the valve stem that the up and down movement of the valve stem would be very stiff, making it impossible to operate it by the thermo-expansible fluid power device C. With this construction, however, the refrigerant exerts an internal pressure against the bellows l9, and thus tends to urge the valve stem 26 upwardly to open the valve I5. To off-setthe effect of the internal pressure of the refrigerant acting upon the flexible wall bellows I9, I utilize an upper neutralizing flexiblewall assembly l3, having a flexible wall bellows H, which is of a construction similar to As illustrated, theflexible wall bellows I! is enclosed in a casing I l which is connected in com-.- munication with the T-shaped nipple 35 by means of an interconnecting pipe 36. The plunger 4| of the upper flexible wall bellows [1 projects downwardly through the upper flange 41 of the body bracket 46, and engages an adjusting nut 25 which threadably engages the upper end of the threaded floating stud 2|. Upon the lower end of the threaded floating stud 2| is an adjusting nut 24 which contacts the upper end of the plunger 20 that is actuated -by the flexible wall bellows I9. Intermediate the floating threaded stud 2| are two jam nuts 22 and 23 which engage the common, interconnecting member l6 which interconnects the toggle arrangement indicated generally by the reference character I 2 to the floating stud 2|. Bytha foregoing arrangement.

it is noted that the downward force produced by the upper neutralizing flexible wall bellows I1 is equal to the upward force produced by'the flexible wall bellows l9. This means that the movement of the valve I5 is independent of the pressure of the refrigerant, and thus the operation of the valve 15 is controlled entirely by the force produced by the toggle arrangement indicated generally by the reference character I2.

While I have illustrated the neutralizing flexible wail bellows IT as being mounted above and in vertical alignment, with the flexible wall bellows l9, yet it is to be understood that'the neutralizing flexible wall bellows 11 may be mounted in any opposing cooperative relationship with the flexible wall bellows l9. Thus, the neutralizing flexible wall bellows I"! may be mounted off to one side of the flexible wall bellows i9 and arranged to set up an opposing force through means of a lever system, such as, for example, through means of a walking beam type of construction of levers.

As illustrated, the thermoexpansible fluid power device C is connected in communication with a thermo-expansible fluid-tube 91 by means of a tube 38. In actual practice, the thermo-expansible fluid tube 31 is provided with an e pansible fluid, and accordingly the pressure exertedby the expansible fluid is a function of the temperature surrounding the expansible fluid tube. As will appear later in the description, this expansible fluid tube may be placed adjacent or in the vicinity-of an evaporator of a refrigerating system, so that the pressure exerted by the expansible fluid is a function of the temperature condition of the evaporator and the surrounding circulating air. While not shown in cross-section, the thermo-expansible power device C may be constructed of a bellows similar to the flexible wall bellows i1 and I9. Therefore, the variableforce exerted by the thermo-expansible fluid power device C is a function of the temperature conditions surrounding the thermoexpansible fluid tube 37.

The thermo-expansible fluid power tube C is attached to the lower flange 48 by the screws 49 and is arranged to exert a variable force upon the floating toggle arrangement indicated gen.- erally by the reference character l2, and is disposed to work in opposition to the large adjustment spring A. See Figures 1, 3, and 4. The construction of the parts which interconnect the thermo-expansible fluid power device C withthe large adjustable spring A may be explained as follows: Immediately above the theme-expansible fluid power device 0 and partially projecting through the lower flange 49 of the body brack-' et 45, is a stop nut 39 which threadably engages a plunger 49 that is operated by. the thermoexpansible fluid power device C. This plunger 49 extends throughout the length of the toggle assembly l2 and terminates at a point above the uppenflange 4'l. Immediately above the threaded stop nut 39 and surrounding the plunger 49 is a rectangular block 50, against the upper edge of which, and surrounding the plunger 49, is placed the lower flange 53 of ,the interconnecting member IS. A tubular sleeve 62 surroundingthe plunger 49, isarranged between the lower flange 53 and the upper flange of the interconnecting member 15. Immediately above the upper flange of the interconnecting member I9 is a jam nut 55. Therefore, when the jam nut and the stop nut are tightly turned down,

the entire assembly of theparts associated with the plunger 49 becomes securely and rigidly connected to the plunger 49. The. sleeve 42 is primarily utilized in order to afford'a good strong support for the interconnecting member I 5, so that there is no tendency for the interconnecting member I5 to become loose and have play with reference to the plunger 49. As illustrated,

' the large spring A is interposed between the 11pper flange 41 and an adjusting nut 99, so that the force of the large spring A may beg varied by turning the adjusting nut 59. Above. the

flange 41 and threadably engaging the plunger- 49 is a jam nut 14 and a jam nut I3 between which is mounted an upper floating block 99 having a longitudinal groove 69 provided on the right-hand longitudinal side thereof. Positioned in the two grooves 59 and I2 is a knife edged member H which pivots up and down as the plunger 49 is moved. In order to hold the knife edged member II within its associated grooves, I utilize awire spring 15 having'its left-hand end engaging the upper .end of the plunger 49 and having its right-hand end engaging a stationary anchoring stud 15 mounted on top of the stationary block 19. Consequently, the combined action of the knife edged member II and the spring 15 is such as to guide the upper end of the plunger 49 while at the same time affording an up and down movement to the plunger that is substantially free of friction. The upward travel of the plunger 49 may be determined by the head. of the stop nut 39 engaging the under surface of the lower flange 48 and the downward travel may be determined by the rectangular block 59 engaging the upper side of the flange 49.

With reference to the floating block 59, there is provided along its left-hand longitudinal face a groove 55 and along its right-hand longitudinal face a groove 58. Spaced to the left of the floating block 50 is a stationary block 5| which has along its right-hand longitudinal face a groove 54, and spaced to the right of the floating block 50 is a stationary block 52 having a knife-edge member 5| projecting from the left-hand longitudinal face thereof. Positioned in the longitudinal groove 54 of the stationary block 5| and the longitudinal groove 55 in the left-hand longipositioned the left-hand edge of the knife-edged" member 9|. The left-hand end of the inverted L-shaped lever 53 is 'urged upwardly by means of a small adjusting spring B which has its upper end thereofprovided with a threaded nut adapted to receive the threads of the adjusting screw 51, which varies the tension of the adjusting spring 3 as it is turned. It is noted that the arrangement of the inverted L-shaped lever 53, together with. its associated parts, provides a toggle arrangement having a knee-action to give a quick acting movement to the plunger 49. It is also noted that the toggle arrangement afforded by the inverted L shaped' lever 53 and its associated parts. taken in combination with the toggle arrangement positioned at the upper end of the plunger 49, is such as to provide a guide,

toggle assembly may be referred to as a floating 7 guide arrangement. The absence of friction in the floating toggle arrangement more than offsets the small amount of power required to move the flexible wall bellows I1 and I9. In other words, the floating toggle arrangement has been made to move very freely to compensate for the power required to move the flexible wall bellows l1 and I9. The construction of my entire toggle arrangement is shown diagrammatically in Figures 3 and 4.

In the study of this diagrammatic showing, it is noted that when the knee-action, produced by the knife-edged members 51 and 59 is substantially. straight, there is substantially no urging force produced by the small spring B to move the plunger 49. This position is illustrated in Figure 3. n the contrary, it is noted with reference to Figure 4 that when the knee-action produced by the knife-edge members 51 and 59 is biased, there is an urging force produced by the small adjusting spring B to urge the plunger 49 upwardly. Therefore, when the knee-action produced'by the knife-edged members 51 and 59 is substantially straight, it is only necessary when moving the plunger 49 upwardly for the variable force produced by the thermo-expansible fluid power device C to be increased to a value that is slightly greater than the opposing force produced by the large adjusting spring A. This means that when the temperature surrounding the thermo-expansible fluid tube 91 obtains a certain value sufliciently to cause the variable force created by the thermo-expansible fluid power device C,'to be slightly greater than the opposing force set up by the large adjusting spring A, then the plunger 49 is urged upwardly which trips the toggle arrangement and opens the controlling valve I5. This allows the refrigerant to flow to the evaporator, which in turn reduces the temperature surrounding the expansible fluid tube 31. By this arrangement, the upper temperature setting at which the refrigerant is delivered to the evaporator, to produce a cooling action, is determined by the tension of the large adjusting spring A effected by the turning of the adjusting nut 66.

With reference to Figure 4, it is noted that when once the plunger 49 is biased upwardly, then the forceproduced by the small adjusting spring B comes into play, and helps to urge or snap the plunger 49 upwardly. In other words, when the knee-action, produced by the knifeedged members 5'! and 59 are biased, the force produced by the small spring B opposes the downward force produced by the large adjusting spring A. Therefore, in order to close the control valve I9 to shut off the refrigerant to the evaporator, it is necessary that the temperature influencing the thermo-expansible fluid tube 9'! be reduced to such low value that the variable force produced by the thermo-expansible fluid power device C plus the small adjusting spring B, be less than the force produced by the large iadjusting spring A. Accordingly, the lower temperature at which the valve I5 is closed to stop the cooling action of the evaporator is much lower than the temperature at which the controlling valve |5 is opened to allow refrigerant to flow to the evaporator for producing a cooling action. This means that the spread between the upper temperature at which the control valve 0 is opened, and the lower temperature at which the control valve is closed. is determined by the tension of the small adjusting spring B. Thus, by the construction of my thermally actuated snap valve mecha upper-temperature at which the refrigerant is delivered to the evaporator and the lower temperature at which the refrigerant is shut oil from-the evaporator. v 'In Figure I show the manner in whichlmy quick-acting floating toggle arrangement may be employed to operate a fluid or water valve, .the entire assembly being indicated generally by tho reference character 9|. This form of my invention may be referred to as a pressure actuating snap water valve, and comprises briefly a metallic bellows enclosed in the housing 92, a quick acting floating toggle arrangement indicated'by the reference character 04, and a valve assembly indicated generally by the reference character 90 II, it is possible to set the mounted beneath the lower flange of the body bracket 0;

The bellows enclosed in the housing 82 may be of a construction similar to that shown in crosssection in Figure 1, and is adapted to be connected in communication, as will appear later, with the high pressure refrigerant fluid line of a refrigerating system, by means of the connecting pipe 93. Therefore, when the pressure in the refrigerant fluid line exceeds a certain predetermined limit, the valve is open to allow water to flow through the valve assembly 96 and cool off the compressor and the condenser for liquefying the refrigerant. The valve assembly 90 is arranged to be mounted below the lower flange of the body bracket I I0, and comprises in general a valve casing I06, a stationary valve sleeve 95, a movable valve sleeve 91, a valve stem 9|, a rubber valve washer 99, and a spring I02 for urging the rubber valve washer- 99 against the lower end of the stationary valve sleeve 95. e upper end of the valve casing I06 is enlarged and provided with female threads adapted to screw upon the male threads provided on the annular flange |0| that is connected to the lower flange. of the body bracket 0. As illustrated, the valve casing I00 is provided with an internal shoulder 90 upon which is mounted a flexible rubber diaphragm disk 88. Placed on top of the circumferential edge of the diaphragm disk 90 is, an annular washer 99, so that when the valve casing I00 is firmly screwed upon the annular flange I01, the rubber diaphragm disk 99 is tightly heldbetween the shoulder of the valve casing 09 and the annular washer 99.

The valve stem 9| that is threadably connected to and actuated by the plunger 01 of the'floating toggle arrangement 04' is adapted toextend through the central portion of the rubber diaphragm disk 99 and threadably engage the lower end of the plunger 91 of the toggle arrangement 84. In order to provide a good seal therefor, a jam nut93 is placed around the valve stem 9| and above the rubber diaphragm disk 09, and

- there is placed around the valve stem 9| andbelow the rubber diaphragm disk 08, a jam nut 92, so that when the two Jamnuts93 and 92 are tightly turned against the rubber diaphragm disk 09, there is provided a good tight seal. This prevents any fluid of water from escaping past the valve stem 9|.

As shown, the upper inner surface of the valve casing I00 is provided with female threads which are adapted to threadably receive the upper end of the stationary valve sleeve 99. When the stationary valve sleeve 95 is screwed into'the valve casing I09, the lower end thereof is arranged to coincide with the lower enlarged end of the valve. stem 9| when the toggle arrangement is actuated to its uppermost position. Surrounding the stationary valve sleeve 95 is a movable valve sleeve 91 which is provided intermediate its ends with a circumferential shoulder 98 against which rests a rubbervalve washer 99. Upon the underneath side of the rubber valve washer 99 is a metal washer I00 which urges the rubber washer 99 tightly against the lower end of the stationary valve sleeve 90 by means of the spring I02 that is interposed between the metal washer I00 and the removable plug|09 which is screwed into the lower end of the valve casing I00. In the upper peripheral surface of the movable valv'e sleeve 91, there is provided a plurality'o'f openings IOI, so that when the valve stem 9| is actuated downwardly by the toggle arrangement 04, the water Therefore, the toggle arrangement 84 is substantially free from influence by the fluid or water exerting a pressure upon the rubber diaphragm disk 88. Thearrangement of the valve assembly 88 is such that it can be easily dismantled for cleaning purposes simply by removing the end plug I83 and'then removing the various parts of .the valve.

The floating togglearrangement 84 for actuating the valve assembly 88 is'substantially the same as that hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 3, and 4, and comprises a large adjusting spring I88 which corresponds to the large spring indicated by the reference character A in Figure 1, and a small adjusting spring I89 which corresponds to the small spring indicated by the reference character B in Figurel. The adjusting nut 85 is arranged to control the ad-' justment of the large spring I88 and the adjusting screw 88 is arranged to control the adjustment of the small spring I88. Accordingly, the upper pressure exerted upon the bellows in the casing 82 at which the valve assembly is open to allow the cooling water to flow therethrough and cool the compressor and condenser is determined primarily by the setting of the large spring, I88 by the adjustment screw 85, and the lower pressure exerted upon the bellows enclosed in the cas-' ing 82 at which the valve assembly is closed to prevent the fluid or cooling water to flow therethrough is determined by the setting of the small spring I 88 by the adjusting screw 88.

To facilitate the assembly of the toggle arrangement, the plunger 81 is connected to the plunger that is actuated by the bellows by means of the threaded sleeve nut 84. In addition to the rubber diaphragm washer 88 acting as a seal to prevent any fluid or water escapin past the valve stem 9|, it is noted that it provides a lower guide to the movement of the floating toggle arrangement. 7

The function of the floating toggle arrangement 84 is such as to give a, quick acting snap movement to the valve, in which case the' valve is either fully opened or fully'closed to control the flow of the cooling water to the compressor and the condensing unit.

' In Figure 5, I illustrate another form of a valve embodying the features of my invention, which is indicated generally by the reference character II3. This form of my invention maybe referred to as a pressure actuated snap refrigerant valve, and comprises. in general a body bracket I48, a floating toggle arrangement indicated generally by the reference character I I4, a bellows enclosed within the casing I22, and a valve assembly actuated by the toggle arrangement and the V bellows; Asillustrated, the bellows may be connected to the lower flange I I2 of the body bracket I48 by means of the inter-connecting members I2I. The lower portion of the casing I22 is provided with female threads to receive the upperus having a valve seat 139 on which rests the ball valve I3I. of the ball valve I3I is a short sleeve I28 that is urged against the ball valve I3I by means of a spring I28 surrounding the valve plunger I25 and having its upper end engaging a stop I21 connected to the valve stem I25. In order that the ball valve I3I may freely find its seat I38, I utilize a yoke and pin connection I24 which connects the valve plunger I25 to the upper plunger I23 that is connected to the bellows enclosed within the casing I22. The sleeve H28 is loosely connected to the valve plunger I25 by means of a cross pin I28 that passes through an enlarged opening I38. This means that there is a small amount of play between the movement of the plunger I25 and the movement of the ball valve I3I.

The floating toggle arrangement indicated generally by the reference character I I4, is substantially the same as that described hereinbefore with reference to Figures 1, 3, and 4 and comprises a large adjusting spring II6 that corresponds to the large spring indicated by the reference character A in Figure 1 and a small adjusting spring II! that corresponds to the. small spring indicated by the reference character B in Figure l. The upper single knife edged guiding arrangement that is mounted above the upper flange III of the body bracket I48, is indicated generally by the reference character I31 and is substantially the same as that shown in Figure 1. The adjusting nut II5 varies the tension of the large spring H5 and the screw II8 varies the tension of the small spring I. the assembly, the lower plunger II9 that is actuated by the bellows inthe casing I22 is connected to the upper plunger I35 by means of the threaded sleeve I34. The reference character I28 indicates a stop nut for limiting the upper travel of the toggle arrangement and for securely holding the parts to the plunger I35.

In actual practice, this form of my invention may be utilized to control the flow of a refrigerant in a refrigerating system, and it is noted that the refrigerant itself in this form of my invention controls the bellows mounted in the casing I22, which, in turn, controls the flow ofthe refrigerant itself. In this connection, let it be assumed that the pressure of the refrigerant which enters the pipe.I33 flows into the valve assembly and exerts an upper pressure upon the bellows within the casing I22. When this pressure obtainsa certain predetermined upper value, it causes the toggle arrangement II4 to kick upwardly and allows the refrigerant to flow past the ball valve I3I and out into the exit pipe I32. It is noted that upon the initial upward movemnt of the toggle arrangement-I I4, the spring I26 still urges the ball valve I3I against its seat until the slack or play or the opening I38 in the valve plunger I25 contacts the cross pin I29 and raises the sleeve I28. This means that there is a delay to the opening of the ball valve I3I, until after the floating toggle arrangement H4 is biased far enough by the bellows enclosed within the casing I22 to carry the toggle arrangement to the end of its travel. In other words, if the ball valve I3I were allowed to open immediately with a slight upward movement of the toggle arrangement-the refrigerant would flow past the ball valve I3I, in which case the back pressure of the refrigerant would immediately be reduced to cause the ball valve I 3I to close To facilitate- .again. This would cause chattering of the ball valve I3I, and in order to overcome this, I utilize the slack or play between the cross pin I29 and the enlarged opening ISI. 5 In Figure 6, I show how my invention may be employed in a quick acting pressure operated switch, indicated generally by the reference character I4I. This switch assembly comprises in general a body bracket, I64, a mercury switch I41, a bellows enclosed within the casing I52 for operating the floating toggle arrangement indicated generally by the reference character I42, and an emergency =bello s enclosed within the casing I54 for operating t e mercury switch I41 in the event that the pressure of the fluid line I58 of a refrigerating system obtains a predetermined high value. The construction of the mercury switch I41 is of the usual form and is arranged to be pivotally mounted upon a pivot' 20 pin iii, and is actuated by the floating toggle arrangement I42 by means of an actuating arm I49 which carries an adjusting screw I54 having its upper. end contacting a portion I14 for tilting the mercury switch I41 to its opened position its closed position ina clockwise direction when downward position. The two lower mercury pools of the mercury switch I41 are connected respectively to a terminal'blocklil to which are connected the control wires I59 and IIII for controlling the starting and stopping of the electric motor for driving the refrigerating compressor.-

The two bellows within the casing in and I44 are mounted on the upper flange I of a supplementary body bracket I61 that is connected to the upper flange I66 of the body bracket I64. To'facilitate assembly, the plunger of the bellows within the casing I53 is connected through means of the interconnecting screw sleeve I82 to the floating toggle arrangement I42. The construction of the floating toggle arrangement I42 is substantially the same as that shown and described in Figuresl, 3, 4 and 5, and comprises a large adjusting spring I43 and a small adjust ing spring I44. The adjusting nut I4! is arranged to adjust the tension of the large spring I42 and the screw I46 is arranged to adjust tension of the small spring I44. Mounted beneath the lower flange I65 of the body bracket I44 is the single knife edged floating arrangement, indi- -In the operation of this switch, when the pressure of the refrigerant entering the pipe I41 exceeds a certain predetermined upper value, the bellows within the casing I actuates the toggle 5 arrangement downwardly, and thus allows the weight I 48 to rotate the mercury switch I41 in a clockwise direction to close the switch and start the refrigerating compressor. When the compressor is once started, the pressure will fall until 65 it obtains a certain predetermined lower value.

the toggle arrangement I42 is actuated to its cated generally by the reference character I".

I42 and for securelyholding the parts to the plunger.

In this embodiment of the invention, there is provided an emergency bellows, within the casing I54 and the plunger I" thereof is connected by means of an actuated arm III to engage the contacting surface I50 of the mercury switch as-- Therefore, when the pressure of face I li and tilt the mercury switch in a counter..

clockwise direction to open the circuit for stop- Pin the compressor motor.

In Figure 7, I ically illustrate a refrigerating system employing the devices illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 5, and 6, which devices are respectively indicated generally by the reference characters II, OI, H2, and I4I,in Figure 7. a The quick acting snap valve assembly 8|, hereinbefore noted. may be utilized as a pressure actuated snap water valve and is adapted to control the flow of the cooling water to the refrigerating compressor III and a condenser Ill. The. bellows 82 of this pressure actuated snap water valve is connected to the high pressure refrigerant fluid line IQI of the refrigerating system through. means of a pipe 22. Therefore, when the pressure in the refrigerant fluid line ISI attains a predetermined high value,- the floating toggle arrangement of the pressure actuated snap water valve 2| trips and opens the valve to allow cooling water to flow from rthe supply pipe I45, thr usha pipe I44, thence through the valve assembly of thepressure actuated snap water valve II, the pipe I", the water jacket of the refrigerating compressor III, and thencethrough a pipe I to the condenser pipes I24, and then out through the exit pipe I21 to'the sewer Ill. As,

the cooling water flows through the water jacket of the refrigerating compressor Ill and the condenser pipes I84, the pressure of the refrigerant in the fluid line IlIis gradually reduced, and

when it reaches a predetermined low value, the

floating toggle arrangement of the pressure actu-' atcd snap valve II trips and closes the valve to' three cooling devices that .are adapted to be cohtrolled in accordance with myinventime. One of the cooling devices maybe'in'the' form of 'an ice cream cabinet, indicated generally by the reference character as having an ice cream container 241- mountedtherein. In accordance with usual practice, the-ice cream cabinet is supplied by brine and is arrangedto'be cooled by an evaporator, indicated generally'by the character-248. The evaporator il-'-- lustrated is of the "flooded type, and is arranged 4 9. In practice, therefrigerant delivered tothe evaporator 248 is controlled by means of a needle valve l12 actuated by a float. I12; The refrigerant. as it is delivered to the evaporator 248, is in liquid form, but as it cools the brine, it vaporizes and thereby occupies the space in the evapo- I88, a pipe I88 to the crank case of the compressor unit I8I from thence the vapor refrigerant is compressed and forced back to the evaporator 208 through the pipe I88 to the condenser' I83,

where the vapor refrigerant is cooled and lique fied. From the condenser I83 the fluid refrigerant is forced through a service valve 2I3, a pipe ISI, a cleaning device 238, a pipe 232, a pipe I82, a service valve 288, a pipe I88, to the evaporator 208. So long as the compressor is driven by the electrical motor I82, the vapor refrigerant is sucked from the evaporator 208, compressed, liquefied and redelivered to the evaporator 208 in liquid form.- In a flooded" type of evaporator, the pressure of the vapor refrigerant is determined primarily by the temperature of the brine. Therefore, I utilize my pressure actuated switch Ill to control the starting and stopping the electric motor I82 which drives the compressor I8I, in accordance with the pressure of the vapor refrigerant in the evaporator 208. In other words, inasmuch as the vapor pressure of the refrigerant is a function of the temperature of the brine, it follows that the compressor I8I is controlled in accordance with the temperature of the brine, or in accordance with the duty of refrigeration.

As illustrated, the bellows in the casing I53 of the pressure operated switch III is connected in communication with the service valve I88 through a pipe I51. The emergency bellows in the casing I58 of the pressure operated switch Ill is connected to the service valve 288, thereby connecting the emergency bellows in direct communication with the high pressure'refrigerant fluid line.

This means that when the pressure of the high contained in the casing I88 expands and in turn operates the mercury switch I81 to shut off they electric motor I82. The circuit for controlling the electric motor I82 may be treated as follows:

with the supply conductor I58, the current flows through the mercury switch I41 and thence back through a conductor I88 to the motor I82 and out to the supply line 282.

The upper temperature of the brine at which the motor I82 is started, and the lower temperature of the brine at which the motor I82 is stopped, is determined by the setting of the toggle arrangement of the pressure actuated switch I. In other words, the large spring I43 determines the upper vapor refrigerant pressure at which the toggle arrangement I82 snaps downwardly to close the switch and start the motor, and the small spring I. determines the lower pressure at which the toggle-arrangement snaps upwardly m, but the value of the upper temperature set ting is determined by the adjustment of the large spring I43. For very low temperature, such as that enco mtered in an ice cream container, the

vaporpressure of the refrigerant in the evaporator of the flooded type usually is negative; that is to say, the motor is shut off, for example, at

16 inches of vacuum, and the motor is started at zero inches of vacuum. These values, of course, depend on the nature of the refrigerant used. Therefore, it is tobe understood that when the term pressure is used, it covers both positive and negative pressures.

In Figure '1, I also illustrate a second flooded type of an evaporator, indicated generally by the reference character I for cooling a refrigerator compartment I18. For this type of service, the range of temperatures at which the motor is started and at which the motor is stopped are in a higher bracket, than the range of temperatures at which the motor is started and'stopped for operating the ice cream cabinet 208. 7 Thus, for example, the temperature at which the motor is started with the refrigerator compartment I18 may correspond to eight pounds of pressure, and the temperature at which the motor is stopped may correspond to eight inches of vacuum. In

order to operate two ormore "flooded types of evaporators from the same compressor unit'at diflerent temperature brackets, I utilize the pressure actuated snap refrigerant valve H3. The flow of the refrigerant from andto the evaporator I15 may be traced as follows: Beginning with the evaporator I15, the vapor refrigerant is sucked through the pipe I33, the valve of the pressure actuated snap valve mechanism II3, the service valve I88, and the pipe I88 to the crank case of the compressor unit I8I. From here the refrig erant is compressed and forced through the pipe I80 to the condenser I83, where the vapor refrigerant is liquefied and forced back to the evaporator I15. through the service valve'2 I3, the pipe I8I, a cleaner 284, the pipe 232, the pipe I82,

the service valve 205, and the pipe 200 to the evaporator. I18. This cycle of operation is continued so long as the pressure actuated snap valve mechanism H3 is open; provided, of course, that the compressorI8I is being operated. Let us assume that thecompressor I8I is running, as it will be if the temperature of the brine-in the ice cream cabinet 208 is above its lower limit. Under the running condition of the compressor III, the upper temperature'bracket of the evaporator I10 is determined by the setting of the large spring I I8 and the lower temperature bracket is determined by the setting of the small spring "1 of the pressure actuated valve mechanism II3. Thus, the pressure actuated snap valve mechanism 8 may be set to open the valve at eight pounds pressure and allow the refrigerant to flow from the evaporator I15, and set to close the valve when the vapor pressure of the refrigerant decreases to eight inches of vacuum. In other words, the toggle arrangement of the pressure actuated valve mechanism H3, is set for a higher temperature bracket thanthe temperature by the utilization of my pressure-actuated snap valve assembly II3, I am able to operate two or more flooded" types of evaporators at difi'erent temperature brackets from the same compressor unit. The setting of the toggle arrangement for the pressure actuated snap valve 3 may be such as to prevent too much ice collecting on the evaporator. In other words, the evaporator I15 is de-frosted each time that the valve is closed.

In accordance with current practice, the "flooded type of evaporator is being replaced by what is known in the trade as afdry evaporator.

Hence, if thecustomer desires to have additional refrigeration service from the same compressor,

the present policy is to install a dry expansion" evaporator instead of the former "flooded type of evaporator. This means that the dry expansion evaporator is operatedefron'i the same compressor that feeds the flooded type of evaporator. In Figure '1, I illustrate an installation of the dry expansion" type of evaporator in therefrigerator box I11. In this illustration, a reference character I18 designates a coil of pipes having fins I19 controlled by the thermoexpansion valve I89. In accordance with the practice of dry expansion evaporators, there is installed a small thermo-expansion fluid tube I94 adjacent the exit pipe of the dry expansion evap- 5 orator, so that whatever ice is formed on the pipe I18, cannot run back beyond the thermo-expansible fluid tube I 94, because just as soon as the ice reaches the thermo-expansible fluid tube I94, the expansible fluid therein contracts and operates to shut off the expansion valve I89.

In the operation of a dry expansion" evaporator, the pressure of the refrigerant is not a measure of the temperature, as is the case of a "flooded" type. The pressure of the vapor refrigerant, whenthe thermo-expansion valve I89 is breathing, is substantially constant, regardless of the temperature conditions. Therefore, it is impossible to operate a "dry expansion" evaporator by means of the pressure of the vapor refrigerant, as is the case with the "flooded yp of evaporator. Accordingly, I utilize my thermally actuated snap valve mechanism, indicated generally by the reference character III to control the dry expansion" evaporator I18. The circulation of the refrigerant for the dry expansion evaporator I18 may be as follows: Beginning with the evaporator I18 the refrigerant is sucked to the compressor I 8| through the pipe 20I, the service valve I98, the pipe I99 to the crank case of the compressor I8I.

vapor refrigerant is compressed and forced through the pipe I99 to the evaporator I18 through theservice valve 2I3', the pipe I9I, the cleaning device 234, the pipe 232, the pipe 34 to and through the valve of the thermo. actuated snapj,valve mechanism I0, and the pipe 82 to the expansion valve I89 which feeds the coils I18 of the dry expansion evaporator. This cycle of operation is continued 'so long as the thermally actuated snap valve mechanism III is opened; provided the compressor unit I8I is driven by the motor I82. As illustrated, there is positioned adjacent the fins "-9 of the dry expansion" evaporator, the thermo-expamlble tube 31, which is connected in communication with the thermally actuated snap valve mechanism III by means of the pipe 38. This means that the thermally actuated snap valve mechanism III is controlled by the variable 0 fluid pressure within the thermo-expansible tube 31. While the thermo-expan-sible tube 311s mounted adjacent the fin I19, yet it is influenced by the temperature of the circulating air within the refrigerator I11, as well as by the skin tem- 35 perature of the fins I19. In the operation of a dry expansion evaporator, there is a tendency for the ice or frost to collect upon the flns,'and if the frost or the ice were allowed to continue to collect, there would be formed a complete clo- 10 sure of ice around the iins I19. When this condition happens, the effective area of the cooling surface of the dry expansion evaporator is ma terially reduced, because the circulating air can no longer contact the available space between the 16 fins I19. Accordingly, it is necessary to control Here the the flow of the refrigerant to the dry expansion evaporator, such that the refrigerant is shut off when too much ice begins to collect on thefins I19. The refrigerant is kept shut oil until the ice has substantially melted from the flns I19. 5 Therefore, the thermally actuated snap valve mechanism II is usually set to open the valve when the skin temperature of the fins I19 is at approximately 33 degrees, just above the melting point of ice. For commercial purposes in 10 order to give the proper refrigeration to the cooling of a refr'gerator box, the lower temperature atwh'ich the valve is set to close may be approximaltely 16 d skin temperature. With reference to the thermally actuated snap valve mech- 15 anism III, the setting to give the upper 33 degrees skin temperature is determined by the tension at the large spring A and the setting to give the lower 16 degrees skin temperature is determined by the setting of the small spring B. It go isalsonotedrthat, justassoonastheicebegins to cover the thenno-expansible fluid tube 81, the circulating air of the refrigerator box I11, which is of a higher temperature than the skin temperature of the flns I19, is isolated from the thermo- 25 expansible tube 81 itself, and thus under this condition, the thermally actuated snap valve mechanism I9 operates to close the valve and stop the flowof the refrigerant at a slightly higher value than 16 degrees skin temperature. 30 This means that just as soon as too much ice begins to form upon the flns I19, the tendency for the valve mechanism III to close earlier, is on the safe side. It is to be understood, however,

that the range 0! temperatures which I have as- 35 sumed throughout this discussion is merely arbinary, and may vary for different servicing conditions, as well as with the kind of refrigerant utilized. In the actual practice, the temperature bracket settings eifected by the thermally actuo ate'd snap valve mechanism III to control the dry' expansion" evaporator for .the refrigerator box- I11, may b substantially the same as the temperature bracket settings effected by the pressure actuated refrigerant valve I I3 which controls the 5 flooded" type 01 evaporator I15 for the refrigerator box I19. From the foregoing, it is noted that with the employment 'of my several control devices, it is possible to control either the flooded" type or the "dry expansion type of an 50 evaporator, and operate them at difl'erenlt temperature brackets for one compressor unit. rmconvenience, the thermally actuated snap valve mechanism II, the pressure actuated snap valve III, and the pressure actuated switch I, may 55 be mounted upon a panel I93. I

In Figure 8, I show another use for my thermally actuated snap valve I8, in that it may be employed to control the cooling or the exit or goose neck pipe 22I installed under a counter go 214 and controlled by a hand valve M5. As illustrated, the fluid or is fed bya pipe 2" into the container 2|, where the container is usually refrigerated. If the fluid or drink is allowed to stand for any considerable length of time in the goose neck" pipe 221, the drink warm. Therefore, when a drink is served by operating the valve 2, the first few customers receive a warm drink. This is very objectionable. To overcome this objection, I provide for cooling the 10 "goose neck pipe 22 .To this end, I place a strip of rubber tape 224 between the "goose neck pipe 22I and the fluid refrigerant cooling P 9 229 which contains the cooling refrigerant and which is controlled by the tharmo-expansion valve 219. u

The cooling or refrigerant pipe 220 and the "goose neck pipe 22l, are wrapped with asbestos tape 225 to obtain eflioient operation. The fluid refrigerant, as it is forced from the compressor and condenser flows through a pipe 222 and enters the thermally actuated snap valve mechanism l 0, and thence flows through the expansion valve 219, the fluid refrigerant pip 220, the extra length of pipe 228 and out through the pipe 223 to the crank case of the compressor unit. The thermo-expansible fluid tube 31 is mounted within several loops of the cooling or refrigerant pipe 220. Therefore, the amount of refrigerant delivered to the cooling pip 220 to cool the goose neck pipe 22! is determined by the setting of the thermally actuated snap valve mechanism III which keeps the drink cooled to the desired temperature. In this manner, the first few customers who are served a drink, have a cool drink as well as the later served customers. In accordance with usual practice, a thermo-expansible fluid tube 226 is mounted adjacent the exit end of the extra length of pipes 228, in order to prevent the ice running back on the pipe 223, because when the ice strikes the thermo-expansible fluid tube 226, the expansion valve 2I9 is shut ofi. The operation and function of my thermo actuated snap valve mechanism [0 in connection with this installation is the same as that herein described with reference to the dry expansion evaporator I18 of Figure '7.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed,

I claim as my invention:

1. In a. quick acting movement, in combination, .a movable member adapted to be moved from one position to another, means for urging the member in one direction, variable means adapted to oppose the first means for urging the member i the opposite direction, the variable means producing an opposing force which varies between an upper value that is greater than the force of the force of the first means, and third means for giving a quick acting movement to the movable member, said third means being such as to pro duce substantially no urging force to mov the movable member. when the member is in one position and being such as to produce an urging force to move the movable member when the member is in the other position.

2. In a quick acting movement, in. combination, a movable member adapted to be moved from one position to another, means for urging the member in one direction, variable means adapted to oppose the first means for urging the member in the opposite direction,'the variable means producing an opposingforce which varies between an upper value that is greater than the force of the first means and a lower value that is less than the force of the first means, and third means for giving a quick acting movement including a toggle arrangement having a knee-action which gives a quick acting movement to the movable member, and being such as to produce substantially no urging force to move the movable member when the knee-action of the toggle arrangement is substantially straight and being such as to produce an urging force to move the movable member when the knee-action of the toggle arrangement is biased.

3. In a quick acting movement, in combination, a movable member adapted to be moved from one position to another, means for urging the member in one direction, variable means adapted to oppose the first means for urging the member in the oppositedirection, the variable means prof ducing an opposing force which varies between an upper value that is greater than the force of the first means and a lower value that is less thanthe force of the first means, and third means for giving a quick acting movement to the movable member, said third means including a toggle arrangement having a knee-action which gives a quick acting movement to the movable member, said toggle arrangement including two oppositely disposed knife-edged members which give a knee-action and which produce substantially no urging force to move the movable member when the knee-action of the two oppositely disposed knife-edged members is substantially straight and which produces an urging force to move the movable member when the knee-action of the two oppositely disposed knife-edged members is biased, and a third knife-edged member spaced from the two oppositely disposed knifeedged members and adapted to support another portion of the movable member, the arrangement of the two oppositely disposed knife-edged memmember, means for constraining the pivotally mounted member against the outer edge. of the knife-edged member which is supported by the pivotally mounted member, and a third knifeedged member spaced from the two oppositely disposed knife-edged members and adapted to support another portion of the movable member, the arrangement of the two oppositely disposed knife-edged members and the third knife-edgedmembers being such as to provide a guiding arrangement for the movement of the movable member.

5. In a valve assembly for controlling the flow of a medium, in combination, a valve casing, a valve mounted in the valve casing, said valve having a stem, means externally of the valve casing for actuating the valve stem, flexible means interposed between the valve stem and the Y meansadapted to ofi-set the internal pressure of the medium upon the flexible means, and thereby make the movement of the valve stem independent of the internal pressure of the medium acting upon the flexible means, said equal- 6. In a valve assembly for controlling the flow of a medium, in combination, a valve casing, a valve mounted in the valve casing, said valve having a stem, flexible wall means for enclosing the valve stem within the casing, said flexible wall means being adapted to engage the end of the valve, meansexternally of the valve casing for actuating the flexibl wall means and the valve, the arrangement of the flexible wall means being such that medium within the valve casing exerts a pressure against the inner surface thereof and thereby urges the movement of the valve, and an equalizing flexible wall means adapted to oiT-set the internal pressure of the medium upon the first-mentioned flexible wall means and thereby make the movement of the valve stem independent of the internal pressure of the medium acting upon the inner surface of the firstmentioned flexible wall. means, said equalizing flexible wall means being connected in communication with the said valve.

7. In a valve assembly for controlling the flow of a medium, in'combination, a valve casing, a

valve mounted in the valve casing, said valve -for actuating the flexible wall means and the valve, thearrangement pf the flexible wall means being such that the medium within the valve casing exerts a pressure against the inner surface thereof and thereby urges the movement of the valve, and an equalizing flexible wall means adapted to off-set the internal pressure of the medium upon the first-mentioned flexible wall means and thereby make the movement of the valve stem independent of the internal pressure of the medium acting upon the inner surface of the first-mentioned flexible wall means, said equalizing flexible wall means being connected in communication with the said valve, a quick acting movable member adapted to be moved from one position to another and arranged to control the external actuating means, resilient means for urging the movable member in one direction, variable means adapted to oppose the resilient means for urging the member in the opposite direction, the variable means producing an opposing force which varies between an upper value that is greater than the force of the resilient means, and a lower value that is less than the force of the resilient means, and third means for giving a quick acting movement to the movable member, said third means including a toggle arrangement having a knee-action which gives.

bers is biased, and a third knife edged member spaced from the two oppositely disposed knife edged members and adapted to support another portion of the movable member, the arrangement of the two oppositely disposed knife-edged members and the third knife-edged member being such as to provide a guiding arrangement for the movement of the movable member, as said movable member operates the external actuating means to govern the said valve.

8. In a valve assembly for controlling the flow of a' medium, in combination, a valve casing, a

valve mounted in the valve casing, said valve having a stem, flexible wall means for enclosing the valve stem within the casing, said flexible wall means being adapted to engage the valve stem, a quick acting movable member adapted to be moved from one position to another and arranged to control the valve, the arrangement of the flexible wall m ram being such that the medium within the valve casing exerts a variable pressure against the inner surface thereof and urges the movement of the quick-acting movable member in one direction, resilient means adapted to oppose the variable pressure of the medium acting upon the inner surface of the flexible wall means, the variable pressure producing a force which varies between an upper value that is greater than the force of the resilient means and a lowervalue that is less than the force of the resilient means, third means for giving a quick acting movement to the movable member, said third means including a toggle arrangement having a knee-action which gives a quick acting movement to the movable member, said toggle arrangement including two oppositely disposed knife-edged members which give a kneeaction and which produces substantially no urging force to move the movable member when the knee-action of the two oppositely disposed knifeedged members is substantially straight and which produces an urging force to move the movable member when the knee-action of the two oppositely disposed knife-edged members is biased, a third knife-edged member spaced from the two oppositely disposed knife-edged members and adapted to support another portion ofthe movable member, the arrangement of the two oppositely disposed knife-edged members and the third knife-edged member being such as to provide a guiding arrangement for the movement of the movable member, as said movable member controls the valve stem, and means'for giving a delayed opening to the valve until the knee-ac of a medium, in combination, a valve casing, a

valve mounted in the valve casing, said valve having a stem, flexible wall means for enclosing the valvestem within the casing, means exterable member adapted to be moved from one position 'to ranother and arranged to control the valve, variable means including a second flexible wall means for urging the movable member in one direction to control the valve, resilient means for urging the movable member in the opposite direction, the variable means producing a force which varies between the upper value that is greater than the force of the resilient means-and a lower value that is less than the force of the resilient means, third means .for giving a quick acting movement to the movable member, said third means including a toggle arrangement having a knee-action which gives a quick acting movement to/the movable member, said toggle arrangement including two oppositely disposed knife-edged members which give a knee-action and which produce substantially no urging force to move the movable member when the knee-acto make the operation of the valve substantially independent of the internal influence of the me? tion of the two oppositely disposed knife-edged members is substantially straight and which produce an urging force to move the movable member when the knee-action of the two oppositely disposed knife-edged members is biased, the arrangement of the two oppositely disposed knifeedged members and the first-mentioned flexible wall means being such as to provide a guiding arrangement for the movement of the movable member, said valve casing having an exit opening and an entrance opening for the flow of the fluid, the exit opening being arranged between the valve and the first-mentioned flexible wall means, and the entrance opening on the opposite side of the-valve, so that when the valve is closed, the first-mentioned flexible wall means is substantially free of any pressure from the medium to urge the movement of the valve.

'10. A thermally actuated valve for controlling the flow of a refrigerant'to the expansion valve of an evaporating device, in combination, a tube having an expansive fluid, said tube being influenced by the temperature of the evaporating device, flexible wall means connected in communication with said tube, a control valve for controlling the flow of the refrigerant to the expansion valve, a casing for the control valve, said valve having a stem, second flexible wall means for enclosing the valve stem within the casing, said second flexible wall means being adapted to engage the end of the valve, means externally of the valve casing and including the first mentioned flexible wall means for actuating the flexible wall means and the valve, the arrangement of the second flexible wall means being such that medium within the valve casing exerts a pressure against the inner surface thereof and thereby urges the movement of the valve, and an equalizing flexible wall means adapted to off-set the internal pressure of the medium upon the second mentioned flexiblewall means and thereby make the movement of the valve stem independent of the internal pressure of the medium acting upon the inner surface of the second mentioned flexible wall means, said equalizing flexible wall means being connected in communication with the said control valve, thereby governing the control valve by the expansion of the expansive fluid in the said tube independently of the pressure of the refrigerant.

11. In a valve assembly for controlling the flow of a medium, in combination, a valve casing, a

valve mounted in the valve casing, flexible means influenced by the medium and enclosing the valve within the casing, means arranged to transmit a motion through the flexible means under the influenceofthe medium and operate the valve, and equalizing means cooperatively associated with the valve and adapted to ofi-set the internal pressure of the medium upon the flexible means,

diu'm acting upon the flexible means.

12. In a regulating valve for refrigerating systems, the combination of a valve casing having high pressure and low pressure chamberstherein for the refrigerant, a removable valve seat having apassage therethrough connecting'said chambers, a plunger for engaging said seat, two flexible diaphragms mounted'on thesame side of the valve and' connected with said valve plunger, whereby said valve seat is removable'without disturbin the diaphragms, means for maintaining the high pressure refrigerant in contact with one side of each diaphragm to cause said diaphragms to oppose each other and to exert a balancing action on said valve plunger, and means for moving said plunger relatively to its seat to operate the valve.

13. In a regulating valve for refrigerating systems, the combination of two flexible diaphragms, means connecting said diaphragms in opposed relationship to each other, a casing in which said diaphragms are operatively supported, means cooperating with said diaphragms and said casing to conduct the high pressure refrigerant into said casing and to maintain it in contact with one side only of each of said diaphragms was to cause the twodiaphragms to exert a balancing action on each other and to transmit the heat of the high pressure refrigerant'to the diaphragms, a valve comprising a plunger both of said diaphragms being mounted on the same side of the valve, and a removable-seat for said plunger, said seat having a restricted passage therethrough for the flow-of the high pressure refrigerant, and means for operating said valve plunger automatically in response to predetermined conditions.

14. A thermally actuated snap-action valve device for controlling the flow of refrigerant in a closed refrigerant circuit comprising, in combination, a valve casing having inlet and outletv openings adapted for connection in the closed refrigerant circuit, a valve mounted in the casing fluenced by the refrigerant and enclosing the valve within the casing, means arranged to transmit a motion through the flexible means under the influence of the refrigerant and operate the valve, equalizing means influencing the valve and adapted to off-set the internal pressure of the refrigerant upon the flexible means to make the operation of the valve substantially independent of the internal influence of the refrigerant acting upon the flexible means, actuating means for actuating the transmitting means and the valve, said actuating means comprising the combination of snap-action means, spring means and thermal sensitive means 'having a device with expansible fluid therein, said "spring means and said thermal sensitive means opposing each other and governing both directional movements of the snap-action means, said spring means over-powmeans functioning quickly to move the valve from its closed position to its open position, and means influencing the spring means for adjust ing the temperatures at which the valve opens and closes.

15. A thermally actuated snap-action valve device for controlling the flow of refrigerant in a closed refrigerant circuit comprising, in combination, a valve casing having inlet and outlet openings adapted for connection in the closed refrigerant circuit, a valve seat in said casing, a

valve mounted in the casing for engaging thevalve seat to control the flow of refrigerant therethrough, said valve having a positive wide open position and a positive closed position, actuating means for actuating the valve from one position to the other, said actuating means comprising the combination of snap-action means, spring means and thermal sensitive means having a device with expansible fluid therein, said spring means and said thermal sensitive means opposing each other and governing both directional movements of the snap-action means, said spring means over-powering the thermal sensitive means upon the contraction of the fluid therein and directly holding the valve in its closed position, said thermal sensitive means upon the expansion of the fluid therein over-powering the spring means and directly holding the valve in its: wide open position, said snap-action means functioning to quickly actuate the valve with snap-action from its closed position to its open position, and adjustment device for controlling the flow of refrigerantin a closed refrigerant circuit. comprising, in combination, a valve casing having inlet and outlet openings adapted for connection in the closed refrigerant circuit, a valve seat in said casing,

a valve mounted in the casing for engaging the valve seat to control the flow of refrigerant therethrough, said valve having a positive wide open position and a positive closed position, actuating means for actuating the valve from one position to the other, said actuating means comprising the combination of snap-action means, spring means and thermal sensitive means having' a devicewith expansible fluid therein, said spring means and said thermal sensitive means opposing each other and governing both direc tional movements of the snap-action means, said spring means over-powering the thermal sensitive means upon the contraction of the fluid therein and directly holding the valve in oneof its positions, said thermal sensitive means upon the expansion of the fluid therein over-powering the spring means and directly holding the valve in its other position, said snap-action meansfunctioning to quickly actuate the valve with snap-action from only one of said positions to the other, and adjustment means for variably adjusting the tension of the spring means.

1'7. A thermally actuated snap-action valve device for controlling the flow of refrigerant in a closed refrigerant circuit comprising, in combination, a valve casing having inlet and outlet openings adapted for connection in the closed refrigerantcircuit, a valve mounted in the casing for controlling the flow of refrigerant therethrough, said valve having a positive wide open position and a positive closed position, flexible wall sealing means enclosing the valve within the casing, actuating means arranged to transmit a motion through the flexible wall sealing means and operate the valve from one position to the other, said actuating means comprising the combination of snap-action means, spring means and thermal sensitive means having a device with expansible fluid therein, said spring means and said thermal sensitive means opposing each other and governing both'directional movements of the snap-action means, said spring means over-powering the thermal sensitive means upon the contraction of the fluid therein and causing the snap-action means to move to one of its positions, said thermal sensitive means upon the expansion of the fluid therein overpowering the spring means and causing the snapaction means to move to its other position, said snap-action means functioning quickly to move the valve from its closed position to its open position, and adjustment means for variably adjusting the tension of the spring means.

18. In a thermally actuated snap-action valve device, a valvecasing having inlet and outlet passages separated by a partition having a valve port therein, a valve member cooperating with said valve port for controlling the flow of fluid through said valve port, a valve stem foractuating said valve member, said valve stem extending from said valve member in the same direction as the valve member moves for opening the valve port, flexible wall sealing means enclosing the valve within the casing, actuating means arranged to transmit amotion through the flexible wall sealing, means and operate the valve, said actuating means comprising the combination-of snap-action means, spring means and thermal sensitive means having a device with expansible fluid therein, said spring means and said thermal sensitive means opposing each other and goveming both directional movements of the snapaction means, said spring means over-powering the thermal sensitive means upon the contraction of the fluid therein and causing the snap-action means to move to one of its positions, said thermal sensitive means upon the expansion of the fluid therein over-powering the spring means and causing the snap-action means to move to its other position, said snap-action means func-' tioning quickly to move the valve from its closed position to its open position, and adjustment means for variably adjusting the tension of the spring means.

19. A thermally actuated snap-action valve device for controlling the flow of refrigerant in a closed refrigerant circuit comprising, in combination, a valve casing having inlet and outlet openings adapted for connection in the closed refrigerant circuit, a valve seat in said casing, a valve mounted in the casing for engaging the valve seat to control the flow of refrigerant therethrough, said valve having a positive wide open position and a positive closed position, actuating means for actuating the valve from one position tothe other, said actuating means comprising the combination of first spring means, snap-action means including second spring means, and thermal sensitive means having a device with expansible fluid therein, said first spring means and said thermal sensitive means transmitting 0pposing forces to the snap-action means, said first spring means over-powering the thermal sensitive means uponthe contraction of the fluid therein and directly holding the valve in its closed position; said thermal sensitive means upon the expansion of the fluid therein over-powering the first spring means and directly holding the valve in "its wide open position, said second spring means acting upon the snap-action means to give quick snap-action movement thereto, saidsnapaction means functioning to quicklyaotuate the valve with snap-action from its closed position to its open position, adjustment means for variably adjusting the tension of the first spring means, -and second adjustment means forvariably adjusting the tension of the second ings adaptedfor connection in the closed re-- frigerant circuit, said casing having two chambers for the'refrigerant, a removable valve seat having a passage therethrough connecting said chambers, a valve mounted in the casing on one side of said seat for engaging said seat and controlling the flow of refrigerant therethrough, said valve having a positive wide open position and a positive closed position, actuating means mounted on said one side of said seat for actuating the valve from one position to the other, whereby said valve seat is removable without disturbing the actuating means, said actuating means comprising the combination of snapaction means, spring means and thermal sensitive means having a device with expansible fluid therein, said spring means and said thermal sensitive means opposing each other and governing both directional movements of the snapaction means, said spring means over-powering the thermal sensitive means upon the contraction of the fluid therein and causing the snap-action means to move to one of its positions, said thermal sensitive means upon the expansion of the fluid therein over-powering the spring means and causing the snap-action means to move to its other position, said snap-action means functioning quickly to move the valve from itsclosed position to its open position, and adjustment means for variably adjusting the tension of the spring means.

21. A thermally actuated snap-action valve device for controlling the flow of refrigerant in a closed refrigerant circuit comprising, in combination, a valve casing having inlet and outlet openings adapted for connection in the closed refrigerantci-rcuit, said casing having two'chambers for the refrigerant, a removable valve seat having a passage therethrough connecting said chambers, a valve mounted in the casing on one side of said seat for engaging said seat and controlling the flow of refrigerant therethrough, said valve having a positive 'wide open position and a positive closed position, flexible wall sealing means enclosing the valve within the casing,

actuating means arranged to transmit a motion through the flexible wall sealing means and operate the .valve, actuating means mounted on said one side of said seat for actuating the valve from.- one position to the other, whereby said valve seat is removable without disturbing the actuating means, said actuating means comprising the combination of snap-action means, spring means and thermal sensitive means hav-' ing a device with expansible fluid therein, said spring means and said thermal sensitive means opposing each other andgoverning both directional movements of the snap-action means, said spring means over-powering the thermal sensitive means upon the contraction of the fluid therein and causing the snap-action means to move to one of its positions, said thermal sensitive means upon the expansion of the fluid therein over-powering'the spring means and causing the snap-action means to move to its other position, said snap-action means functioning quickly to move the valve from its closed position to its open, position, and adjustment means-for variably adjusting the tension of the spring means.

22. A thermally actuated snap-action valve device for controlling the flomof refrigerant in a closed refrigerant circuit comprising, in combination, a valve casing having inlet and outlet openings adapted for connection in the closed refrigerant circuit, a valve mounted in the casing for controlling the flow of refrigerant therethrough, said valve having a positive wide open position and a positive closed position, flexible the other, said actuating means comprising the combination of flrst spring means, snap-action means including second spring means, and ther- 'mal sensitive means having a device with expansible fluid therein, said first spring means and said thermal sensitive means opposing each other and governing both directional movements of the snap-action means, said first spring means over-powering the thermal sensitive means upon the contraction of the fluid therein and causing the snap-action means to move the.

valve to one of its positions, said thermal sensithe means upon the expansion of the fluid therein over-powering the first spring means and causing the snap-action means to move the valve to its other position, said second spring means acting upon-the snap-action means to give quick snap-action movement thereto, said snap-action means functioning to quickly actuate the valve with snap-action from its closed position toits open position, and adjustment means for variably adjusting the tension of the second spring. 23. A thermally actuated snap-action valve device for controlling the flow of refrigerant in a closed refrigerant circuit comprising, in com-' bination, a valve casing having inlet and outlet openings adapted for connection in the closed refrigerant circuit, a valve mounted in the casing for controlling the flow of refrigerant therethrough, said valve having a positive wide open position and a positive closed position, flexible wall sealing means enclosing the valve within the casing, actuating means arranged to "transmit a motion through the flexible wall sealing means and operate the valve from one position to the other, said actuating means comprising the combination of snap-action means, spring means and thermal sensitive means having a device with expansible fluid therein, said spring means and said thermal sensitive means opposing each other and governing both directional movements ofthe snap-action means, said spring means over-powering the thermal sensitive means upon the contraction of the fluid therein and causing the snap-action means to move to one of its positions, said thermal sensitive means upon the expansior'i of the fluid therein over-powering the spring means and causing the snap-action means to move to its other position, said snap-action means functioning quickly .to move the valve from only one of said positions to the other,

and adjustment means for variably adjusting the tension of the spring means.

24. In a thermally actuated snap-action valve device, a valve casing having inlet and outlet passages separated by. a partition having a valve 0 port therein, a valve member cooperating with said valve port for controlling the flow of fluid through said valve port, a valve stem for actuatme said valve member, said valve stem extending from said valve member in the same direction as the valve member moves for opening the valve Port, flexible wall sealing means enclosing the valve within the casing, actuating means arranged to transmit a motion through the flexible wall sealing means and operate the valve,- said 7 mal sensitive means opposing each other andtherein over-powering the spring means and snap-action means, said spring means overpowering the thermal sensitivemeans upon the contraction of the fluid therein and causing the snap-action means to moveto one of its positions, said thermal sensitive means upon the expansion of the fluid therein over-powering the springmeans and causing the snap-action means to move to its other position, said snap-action means functioning quickly to move the valve from only one of said positions to the other, and adjustment means for variably adjusting the tension ofthe spring means.

25. A thermally actuated snap-action valve device for controlling the flow of refrigerant in a closed refrigerant circuit comprising, in combination, a valve casing having inlet and outlet openings adapted for connection in the closed refrigerant circuit, said casing having two chambers for the refrigerant, a removable valve seat having a passage therethrough connecting said chambers, a valve mounted in thecasing on one side of said seat for engaging said seat and controlling the. flow of refrigerant therethrough, said valve having a positive wide open position and a positive closed position, actuating means mounted on said one side of said seat for actuating the valve from one position to the other,

whereby said valve seat is removable without disturbing the actuating means, said actuating means comprising the combination of snap-action means, spring means and thermal sensitive means having a device with, expansible fluid therein; said spring means and said thermal sensitive means opposing each other and governin both directional movements of the snap-action means, said spring means over-powering the thermal sensitive means uponthe contraction of the fluid therein and causing the snap-action means to move to one of its positions,-said thermal sensitive means upon the expansion of the fluid causing the snap-action means to move to its other position, said snap-action means functioning quickly to move the valve from only one of said-,positions to the other, and adjustment means for variably adjusting the tension of the spring means, -26. A-thermally actuated snap-action valve de vice for controlling the flow of refrigerant in a closed refrigerant circuit comprising, in combinetion, a valve casing having inlet and outlet openings adapted for connection in the closed refrigerant circuit, said casing having-two chambers for the refrigerant, a removable valve seat having a passage therethrough connecting said chambers, a valve mounted in the casingon one side of said seat for engaging said seat and controlling the flow of refrigerant therethrough, said valve having a positive wide open position and a positive closed position, flexible wall sealgoverning both directional movements of the' ing means enclosing the valve within the casing, actuating means arranged to transmit a motion through the flexible wall sealing means andoperate the valve, actuating means mounted on said one side of said seat for actuating-the valve from one position to the other, whereby said valve seat is removable without disturbing the actuating means, said actuating means comprising the combination of snap-action means, spring means and thermal sensitive means having a device with expansible fluid therein,.said spring means and said thermal sensitive means opposing each other and governing both directional movements of the snap-action means, said spring means over-powering the thermal sensitive means upon the contraction of the fluid therein and causing the snap-action means to move to one i of its positions, said thermal sensitive means upon the expansion of the fluid therein overpowering the spring means and causing the snapaction means to move to its other position, said snap-action means functioning quickly to move the valve from only one of said positions to the other, and adjustment means for variably adjusting the tension of the spring means.

27. A thermally actuated snap-action valve device for controllingthe flow of refrigerant in a closed refrigerant circuit comprising, in combination, a valve casing having inlet and outlet openings adapted for connection in the closed refrigerant circuit, a valve mounted in the casing for controlling the flow of refrigerant therethrough, said valve having a positive wide open position and a positive closed position, flexible wall sealing means enclosing the valve within 3 the casing, actuating means arranged to transmit a motion through the flexible wall sealing means and operate the valve from one position to the other, said actuating means comprising the combination of flrst spring means, snapaction means including second spring means, and thermal sensitive means having a device with expansible fluid therein, said first spring means and said thermal sensitive means opposing each other and governing both directional movements 4 of the snap-action means, said first spring means over-powering the thermal sensitive means upon the contraction of the fluid therein and causing the snap-action means to move the valve to one of its positions, said thermal sensitive means upon the expansion of the fluid therein overpowering the first spring means and causing the snap-action means to move the valve to its other position, said second spring means acting upon the snap-action means to give quick snap-action movement thereto, said snap-action means functioning to quickly actuate the valve with snapaction from only one of said positions to the other, and adjustment means for variably adjusting the tension of the second spring.

- RUFUS E. STOLZ. 

